Fuel treating device



Oct. 7, 1952 w. M. MALOUF 2,613,143

FUEL TREATING DEVICE Filed May 24, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

Millie rm HMaZouf AT 'roRNEy.

Patented Oct. 7, 19:52

UNITED STATES PATENT 'QOFFICE FUEL TREATING DEVICE William M. Malouf, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to M-M & M Engineering and Research Corporation, Inc.

Application May 24, 1948, Serial No. 28,941 .18 Claims. (01. 485180) This invention relates to improvements in fluid cesses acting as vanes which are connected by cross,

or cho'rdal bores. The fluid stream, if of sumcient velocity, causes the ball to float on the stream, and the impingement of air on the vanescauses the ball to rotate at a high speed.

While such structures are highly 'eflicient, I have observed a phenomenon which permits. me to vary the design of the ball in order to obtain an increase in its emciency and to permit a novel application thereof.

I have observed that when the ball spins in the fluid stream there is a region of high pressure at the surface of the ball at or near, i. e., contiguous to, the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the ball and a region of low pressure at or near the axis of rotation of the ball.

I have found that by connecting the cross, i.-e., chordal, bore connected to the peripheral recess acting as vane with a diametric bore, the ball orients itselfv so that the diametric bore is sub'-, stantially perpendicular to the direction of the fluid stream and the impingement of the air on the vane causesthe ball to. rotate.

of the rotating ball in conjunction with the region of high pressure at the surface of. the ball adjacent the vane causes a pumping action: to-

The action of the stream of fluid indi-' cates that it is sucked into the diametric bore and expelled through the chordal bore due 'to centrifugal action. The resultant action causes a local shearing of the fluid stream at or near the rotating ball surface and an impingementof the expelled stream from the, ball which additionally reacts against the stream. This action causes a rotation of the stream at or near the ball and a region of extremely high turbulence in the conduit in which the ball.is positioned;

Apparently. the region of low pressure atthe diametric bore the degree of dispersion of the liquidfuel in the air stream the more efficient the combustion.

In internal combustion spark ignition engines there is a segregation of heavy and light ends of the gasoline in the air stream passing to the several cylinders due to inefficiency of the fuel distribution of the intake manifolds. This is because there is a partial distillation of the gasoline from the relatively large droplets of the fuel in the air stream.

The carburetted air stream is composed of liquid particles, vapor, and air and at bends in the distributor system, and also as the stream progresses the inertia of the relatively heavy liquid fuel particles and gravity acting thereon causes a segregation of the fuel and the end cylinders may get a reduced amount of liquid fuel and'a greater amount of vapor and air. Additionally,

since the light ends of the gasoline are vaporized, the cylinders are not only fed with different ratios of air to fuel, but the fuel is not of uniform composition.

It, is well known also that this effect is worse at low speed than at high speed in the spark ig-, nition engine.

In my device, I find that the degree of atomiza.-'

tion is so fine that an aerosol is established and there is no segregation of the fuel. Each cylinder can therefore be fed with the same mixture.

While I find one of the greatest utilities of my invention is in carburetting fuel, it also may be applied to any purpose where a liquid is to be atomized in a gas stream or where gases arefto be mixed.

These and other objects of my invention will be further described in connection with one pre ferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 isa view partly in plan and partly in section of the application of one form of my in.- vention to the carburettor of a spark ignition engine;

Fig, 2 is a plan view of my device positioned in thegasket used in Fig. 1; V

Fig, 3 is a view partly in section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 Fig. .4 is a view partly in section, similar to Fig. 3, of a different form of my invention;

1 Fig. 5 is a View partly in section, similar to Fig. l, but of a different form of my invention; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rotating ball of m inv nt s Fig. '7 is a view taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 6; and r Fig. 8 is a view partly in section of the application of the ball of Fig. 6 to a mixing nozzle. T

The ball! shown in Figs. 6 and 7 contains a diametric bore 2- At the surface of the ball is an angularly disposed vane formed by milling the ballsothat the cup-shaped recess 3 acting as avane is so disposed that the axis 4 of the cupshaped vane 3 is ,upon a chord of the sphere. It.

section 6 is passed a drill to cut a chordalbore 7 whose axis 8 intersects the axis' l. The'bore is;

of such diameter that it intersects the bore 2 at! so that there is a fluid passage from bore 2 through 9 into the bore 1. The forward 'end of' the bore 1 does not extend through the periphery its initial position, orients, as indicated in Fig. 6, with the axis .of the bore 2 substantially perpendicular to the direction of the air stream as indicated by the arrow A. The air stream enters, for example, through 3 and passes down the chordal bores 1 and l". The air stream in l impinges on ledge 10 and exits through 3'. There is thus a reactive thrust against 6 and H). In like manner the'air stream in l" exits through 3 and of the ball but terminates at I inside th ball.

I may employ only one of such bores I and one of such vanes 3,-but'I'may'also positionone vane at each endof the'bore; forexample, I may omit bores? and 1" and retain 1 and employ-vane3 alone or vane'3 and vane-3'.

While I may use only one of such vanes 3 and bores I in conjunction with the diametric bore 9. I: find that a plurality'thereof are most eilicient for, mypurpose. Inemploying'a plurality-thereof I position the several chordal bores so that they will all intersect each other at the vanes and will all intersect the diametric bore. There is therefore a communication between all of the vanes and between the vanes, chordal bores, and the diametric bore.

If'I emplcy'more than two vanes, I may position them so that I may form two-bores similar to 1, each of which'will terminate at anend such as [0 inside theball for purposes to be more fully described below.

When I employ three such vanes and'three such bores I prefer to make the chordal bores coplanar. This is not entirely essential, as will be clear from this disclosure,'but is, however, preferable. While the plane of the-chordal bore axis may intersect the diametric bore at an acute angle, I have found the most-practical result to be if the planeis perpendicularto the-diametric bore; This form is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

The'axes 8, 8 and'8 of the diametric boresl, I, and l" are all coplanar and intersect each other at equal angles. As shown, this forms an isosceles triangle. The vanes 3, 3', and 3" are similarly positioned with respect to th'e'bores l, I, and 'I and their respective axes 8, 8', and 8".

The vanes-3' and 3" have-'al'sothe-surfaces 5", and 6' and 6" similar-to Sand 6 of'vane3. Each of the bores I and 1" terminates at l0 and I0" in a manner similar to l 00f bore 1', and eachof the chordalbores Iand' 1"intersect' the diametric bore at 9' and 9" similarly to theintersection 9 of the bore 1 with the diametric bore'2.

It therefore will be seen that the chordal' bore 1 intersects the bore 1' and projects throughthe surface of the bore I to form a notch or ledge ID at theentrance of the vane'3', and similarly the bore 1' intersects the bore '1" and I projects through'the surface thereof to form a notch or ledge ill" at or near the entrance-of the'vane 3. Also, in like manner, the-bore l"'intersects the bore 1 and projects through the wall thereof 'to form a notch or ledge at or near the entrance of the vane 3. I

WhileI- do not wish to beboundbyanytheory of the action of my device, I believe that its-properties may be explained by the following.

When the air stream pa'ssing-in either direction, i. e., is in either the directionof the arrow A- or at 180 thereto, the ball, irrespective-of 'there is thus a reactive thrust at 3' and 3" which establishes a couple. In like manner the air stream entering the vane 5 creates a thrust against the leading edge 6 and a three-way couple is thus established which causes rotation and a clockwise rotation is established. Of course, when the ball has rotated the vane 3" is'now in the place' of 3 and the functions described above are repeated in sequence as the' ball is 1'0- tated through 120.

As the ball starts rotating and picks up speed as the inertia of the ball is overcome, a region of'l'ow pressure is generated at the entrance of the bore 2 and the air thus enters Zand adds-to the volume of air passing out of 3 and 3", increasing the velocity of the ball.

Air is thus circulated from the stream of air'by way of the vane in position of attack by thestream (the entrance of vane 3, Fig. 7), and by way of the diametric bore! and out 'of the vane in position of discharge (see 3' and 3", Fig. .7). There is thus a pumping action, the ball acting as a freely suspended centrifugal rotor or Jet.-

acting pump.

If the air and fluid stream indicated by A, Figs. 6 and Lie a mixtureof a liquid and a gas, the action will cause an extremely fine atomization of the fluid in the air stream, 1. e., an ex tremely fine aerosol.

Fig. 8' shows one application of this principle for such. purpose. It illustrates a burner for .a petroleum oil such as fuel oil or'lighter. oils such as burner oil, kerosene or gasoline or as an atomizer for other fluids. As illustratedit is composed of a burner or nozzle body ll carry ing a bore l2 in which'there is a'Venturi restriction 13. A side tube I4 carrying a bore I 4 is connected at the vena contracta of the venturi. Thebore I2 is fed by a valved line l5. In the discharge end'of the bore I2 is threaded a nozzle tip I6 carrying a semi-spherical seat I 1 into which a ball [9, such as shown in Figs. .6 and 7, is' positioned. The. radius of'curvature of the-seat I1 .is the'same as that of the ball 19 and the height of the seat is equal to the radius. The capz20 is positioned on the tip is and carries a bore axially disposed with the axis of [2. The

capimay have a spherical surface. similar to that described for seat I1.

Air or steam under pressure is introduced through 15 and mixed with liquid fuel entering through l4 and the mixture passes upthrough l6; 'Whenacritical air velocity is established, the

ball. raises oil itsseat and orients itself with the bore Zperpendicularto the axis of the bore in l6 and, rotates at a high velocity. .The coarse mixtureiof'the'fuel andvapor or airbecomes' an extremely-fine'aerosol. and on ignition burns with through 2!, is vibrating and a whistle occurs.

The:frequency of the sonic wave depends upon? the pressure in line and increases as the pressure increases. As the pressure exceeds a critical limit, depending upon the constants of the nozzle, the frequency may become supersonic. Thus, a supersonic wave of high intensity and great energy may be emitted by this means and beamed by. pointing the nozzle. In such case, of course, the side line M is not necessary and maybe omitted or closed off by closing the valve l4. 1

It is an interesting property of the device that theball functions irrespective of the direction in which the nozzle is pointed. Thus, if the initial position of the nozzle is down and the ball is on the seat 23, closing 2|, as pressure is turned on the nozzle, the ball will rise counter to gravity and against the direction of the fluid stream and will start rotating in the manner described:

While I do not desire to be bound by the theory, I believe that the rotating ball becomes an air foilwith'a piling up of the air behind the ball to lift the ball against gravity and the direction of the air stream.

I have also found that this device has a great utility in carburetion in internal combustion engines.v Thus, as illustrated inFig. 5, the ball may be mounted in the fuel-air induction line of an internal combustion spark ignition engine between the fuel nozzle and preferably between the throttle and the engine intake manifold. As illustrated in Fig. 5, line 22 is the air-fuel line and 23 is the conventional throttle. Line 22 carries a flange 25. Between flange 25 and the manifold flange Ed is a gasket 21 in which are positioned two spring clips 28 diametrically opposed. These carry suspended a tubular coil spring. On the coil springl29 is a cup 30 having a spherical seat 3i and nozzle 32. Peripheral openings 30a above the seat 3! may also be provided. In the seat M is positioned a ball 33 of construction similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The seat may be of substantially the same radius of curvature as the ball. It will be observed that the seat of the ball is suspended on the coil spring axially of the axis of the'spring and the ball is thus positioned inside the coil spring axially thereof. The stream of air and fuel passing from the carburetor through the throttle passes up 32, causes the ball to rotate and causes an atomization of the fuel and air in'the manner previously described.

Instead of the carburetor being up -flow, as in; dicated by the arrow, the flow of the air fuel mixture may be in a direction opposite to the arrow in Fig. 5. Notwithstanding that the initial or rest position of the ball is on the seat 3| to close the opening 32, the downflow of the air, if of suili'ciently highvelocity, causes the ball to rotate and rise, off its seat to fioatin the air stream andact as an atomizer, as described above.

4 The support for the ball is thus spring or yieldably suspended. The seat for the ball is axially positioned in the air stream and is yieldingly supported and not rigidly connected to the conduit. Any vib'rationset up in the seat and cage for the ball is thus not transmitted to the walls of the conduit but is dampened outbefore it,

3?. Alt eachend'oi'the U'tube 38 is mounted 9.

tubular coil spring 39 and 43. The ends of the' tube are swaged to form a bell mouth 42 and 43 on which the tube is suspended in the tubular springs. The spring 39 is fairly tightly wound while the spring 40 is wound tightly at 43 adjacent the bell mouth 42 to form a spherical seat for the ball. They are more loosely coiled at 4| and then wound in a helix of smaller diameter at 45 to form a re.- taining member for the ball.

The U tube is positioned so that the spring 39 is adjacent the edge of the throttle when the throttle is in part throttle or road load position, as shown in Fig. 1. When the throttle is thus in road load orin idling position the mouth opening of the tubular coil as is directly underneath the open edge of the throttle. The mouth 53' is thus exposed not only to the static pressure of the air stream but also to the dynamic head of the high velocity air stream issuing through the restricted opening between the throttle edge and the wall of the conduit 30'. The tube 42 is closed by the ball as and therefore a pressure is built up underneath the ball 44 to a total pressure equal to the dynamic head and the static pressure of the gas stream at as. The air velocity above the ball 44 underneath the canopy of the throttle is at a lower velocity. The effect of this air stream and the stream of air passing over the ball 44 in the direction of the arrows causes the ball 44 to spin and rise oif itsseat 42 to spin freely in the air stream and to atomize the mixture of fuel and air.

In the form shown in Fig. l, the U tube 46 is similarly constructed with each end formed in the fashion of the end at =32 and 43', in that each end of the U tube it carries a belled end at on which is wound a tight helix to form a spherical seat at d8, more loosely wound at 19, and formed at 5B in a helix of restricted diameter to retain the ball 5!. The U tube is suspended in the same manner as the U tube 3t.

When positioned as is the tube in Fig. 1, the down flowing stream in the direction of the arrow passes over the balls and causes them to spin and rise from their seats M3. Pressure is equalized underneath both balls by the U tube at. The action is then as is described previously for the other forms.

The resilient suspension of the ball seat in the forms of Figs. 1-5, inclusive, isolates the unit from the walls of the air fuel system. Since vibratory forces of substantial dimensions may be set up at some stages-cf the operation of the ball, the

yielding support dampens them out before they reach the walls and prevents the transmission thereof to the air fuel conduit.

While I have throughout this specification referred to the units shown in the figures as a ball, because for practical reasons this shape is to be desired, their functioning is not entirely dependent upon its spherical outer shape, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, and the rotating mass may be polygonal, ellipsoidal, or of any arbitrary outer shape, provided that the internal structure and the positioning of the vanes are preserved. Thus, the shape between the vanes 3, 3, and 3" shown in Fig. 7 is of secondary significance. For practical purposes both as to construction and efficiency of operation I prefer to employ a spherical body. When the mass rotates it generates in space a solid of rohend' these other solid shapes;

The springs are suspended on the clips.

--Whi1e1 have described a. particular embodiment :of my invention for the purpose of illustration, ;it1should he understood that various modifications and adaptations thereof may be made within the spirit :of the; invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rotatable balli member comprising a di ametric bore through said balLachorda-l bore insaidhall-intersecting saiddiametric bore, a peripheral recess acting'as-avane at the surface of said ball and connectedto one end of said chordalfbore.

2;.A rotatable ballmember comprising a diametric bore throughsaid ball, a plurality of coplanar-chordalbores in said ball, each chordal bore intersectingsaid diametric' bore, and peripheral recesses acting as vanes formed in the surface ofsaid balland positioned at the surface of said .ball, each recess connected to a chordal bore.

.3. A rotatable ball member comprising a diametric bore through said ball, a plurality of coplanar chordal bores in said ball, each chordal bore intersecting said diametric bore, and peripheral recessesacting-as vanes formediin the surface of said ball and positioned at the surface of said ball, each recess connected 'totwo of said chordal bores.

4. A rotatable ball member comprising a diametric bore through said ball, a plurality of coplanar chordal bores in said'ball, each chordal bore intersecting said diametric bore, and peripheral recesses acting as vanes formed in the surface of said ball and positioned at the surface of said ball, each recess connected to two chordal bores, one of said chordal bores terminating in a notch at each of said vanes.

5. A rotatable ball member comprising a diametric bore through said ball, a plurality of coplanar chordal bores in said ball, the axes of said chordal bores forming an isosceles triangle, each chordal bore intersecting said diametric bore, and peripheral recesses acting as vanes formed in the surface of said ball and positioned at the surface of said ball, each recess connected to .two chordal bores.

6. A ball member adapted for rotation about an axis in a moving air stream, comprisinga diametric bore therethrough, and an .additionalbore therethrough terminating at the surface-of said ball andcommunicating with said diametricbore within saidball.

.7. An atomizing unit suitable for use in an air, fluid mixture, comprising a U tube, a tubular coil springiat oneend of said U tube, a ball containing peripheral recesses-acting asvanes mounted in said tubular coil upon-one end of said U tube, a second tubular coilspring mounted upon the other end of said U tube, and a spring clip mounted upon-each of-said tubular coils.

8. An atomizing unitsuitable for use in afluidmixing system comprising a U tube, atubularcoil spring mounted at each end of said tube, a ball carrying'peripheral recesses acting as vanes positioned in each of said coils, and spring clips 8* tube; and a; spring clip mounted upon: each of said1tubular coils.

10. A. fuel atomizingcarburetion system for internal combustion engines comprising an air fuel .conduit, an atomizing nozzle comprising a U tube, a tubular coil spring mounted at each end of. said tube, a ball carrying peripheral recessesacting as vanes positionedon each of said coils, and spring clips-mounted on each of'said coils.

11. An atomizingunit suitablefor use in an air. fluid mixture, comprising a U tube, a tubular coil spring at one endof said U tube, a freely rotatable ,ball mounted'in'said tubular coil upon one end of said U tube, a second tubular coil' spring mountedupon the other end ofsaid U tube, and a spring clip mounted upon each. of said'tubular coils.

12. Aniatomizing unit suitable for use in aiiuid mixing system comprising a U'tuhe, a tubular coil spring mounted at each end of said tube, a freely rotatable ball positioned'in each of said coils, and spring clips mounted on each of said coils.

13. A fluid atomizingdevice comprising a U tube, afreely rotatable ball, means for mounting said ball for free rotation at one end of said U tube and means for positioning said U tube in a stream of fluid to be atomized.

14. A fluid atomizing device comprising a U tube, a freely rotatable ball, having peripheral recesses acting as vanes, means for mounting said freely rotatable ball at one end of said U tube, and means for positioning said U tube in a stream of fluid to be atomized.

15.,An atomiz'ing system, comprising a-fluid conduit, a tubular .coil spring housing resiliently suspended in said fluid conduit, a freely-rotatable ball in said housing, a seat for said ball insaid housing, a port in said seat, atubeconnected to and forming a fluid passageway .to said tubular housing, and a fluid outlet from said housing axially disposed in relation to said ball.

16. Arotatable ball memberadapted for rotation in a movinglair stream comprising a diametric bore through said ball, and a chordal bore in said ball intersecting said diametric bore.

17. A rotatable ball member adapted for rotation in a moving air stream comprising 9.. diametric bore through said ball, and a plurality of .chordalbores disposed in a plane, said plane being at an angle to said diametric bore and said ghordal bores each intersecting said diametric' ore.

18. Arotatable ball member adapted for rotation in a moving airstream comprising a die-- metric bore through said ball, and a plurality of-chordal bores disposed ina plane, said plane being perpendicular to said diametric bore and said chordalbores each intersecting the diametricbore.

WILLIAM M. MALOUF:

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,485,112 Church Feb. 26,- 1924 1,806,356 Lynn May 19, 1931 1,806,404 Lynn May 19, 1931 1,806,406 Malouf May 19, 1931 2,010,973. 'Wepplo Aug. 13, 1935 2,154,807 Cory Apr. 18, 1939 

1. A ROTATABLE BALL MEMBER COMPRISING A DIAMETRIC BORE THROUGH SAID BALL, A CHORDAL BORE IN SAID BALL INTERSECTING SAID DIAMETRIC BORE, A PERIPHERAL RECESS ACTING AS A VANE AT THE SURFACE OF SAID BALL AND CONNECTED TO ONE END OF SAID CHORDAL BORE. 